It’s not often you will find teens from various racial and socioeconomic backgrounds in one room mingling and supporting each other in a positive manner. Louder Than A Bomb (LTAB) is the nation’s largest teen poetry festival. LTAB gathers high school students across the  Chicagoland area, rural Illinois, and Northwest Indiana to perform original poetry. In its tenth year, it continues to grow with over 60 high schools participating. This year included 11 YCCS Campuses.

The 11 YCCS campuses competed in the two week festival held at Columbia College. The weeks coming up to the event, YCCS teams put in extra hours before and after school. Many teams came together on the weekends to prepare. For many, this was the first time they have stood before a large crowd to tell their stories. The topics the students spoke about included their neighborhoods they live in, their relationships and even humorous high school experiences.

YCCS students were gleaming with pride and overwhelmed with a feeling of accomplishment.  Chanel Strains from Innovations High School of Arts Integration was part of the top 16 poets that made it to the semi-finals held at the Steppenwolf Theater. Although, YCCS didn’t come out on top of the competition, the made a big impression on the audience .YCCS poets left with new friends and a boast of self-confidence.

To view pictures from the Louder Than A Bomb Click Here